(CNN) - In the hypothetical battle of Elizabeth Warren vs. Hillary Clinton in 2016, one former Clinton opponent is putting his money on the former secretary of the state, but not without caveats.

On Wednesday’s “Crossfire,” 52% of viewers who responded to the show’s fireback question said they believe Warren could beat Clinton in a Democratic primary. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who ran against Clinton (and Obama) in 2008 in the Democratic presidential primary, disagreed.

(CNN) – Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, was named Thursday as president and CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, a Washington-based lobbying group.

Pawlenty will step down as a national co-chairman of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign to assume the new role, which will formally begin November 1.FULL POST

(CNN) - Mitt Romney's senior adviser Ed Gillespie said Wednesday in a CNN interview that he did not know when his candidate would balance the federal budget, the day after Romney's new vice presidential candidate, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, said the campaign had not yet "run the numbers."

Romney, meanwhile, was on the campaign trail this week praising Ohio Gov. John Kasich's understanding "that it's government's job to balance budgets" and saying his plan would "get us to a balanced budget faster than the plan [Ryan] originally put forward" - while providing few details about how he would balance the federal budget, which he said in June would be reached "within eight to 10 years."FULL POST

Norfolk, Virginia (CNN) - Mitt Romney on Saturday announced U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate - a bold and risky move that energized both conservatives and their opponents. Full Story

Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - A gracious former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, one of the select few who had been on Mitt Romney's vice presidential short list, said Saturday that Paul Ryan's selection as the candidate's running mate makes for a "great team."

"I think Governor Romney's selection of Paul Ryan is a terrific selection," Pawlenty told reporters. "Paul Ryan is a bold leader with great ideas for trying to get this country back on track, and I think he and Governor Romney together will make a great team."FULL POST

(CNN) - They might be called the "almosts" - those thought or known to be on the short list considered by Mitt Romney for his number two spot.

Republican sources told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota - all thought to be on the candidate's short list - received calls from the Romney campaign prior to the announcement.FULL POST

Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, widely speculated to be a top contender to be Mitt Romney's running mate, said late Friday that he had not received a phone call from the presumptive GOP nominee about Romney's choice as news was breaking that Romney would announce his pick on Saturday.

"I did not get a phone call from him tonight," Pawlenty told CNN, adding that he's keeping his campaign schedule in New Hampshire on Saturday.FULL POST

Waterford, Michigan (CNN) - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a man rumored to be on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's short list for vice president, toured a woodworking factory today as he stumped for the former governor.

Pawlenty shook hands and met with Accurate Woodworking's owners in Waterford, Michigan, in the company's showroom-filled with examples of the cabinets they produce.FULL POST

Yellow Spring, Ohio (CNN) - Tim Pawlenty remembers the late nights in 2008, working with his wife, Mary, to pull together all the documents John McCain's campaign requested as it vetted potential running mates.

"No staff. Only us," Pawlenty wrote in his book, "Courage to Stand." "I remember the two of us joking one night at some inhumane hour, 'No way Mitt Romney is doing this by himself.' "